Raw and ripe Pu'er Tea, which is better? It largely depends on your preference. If you plan for long-term storage, raw tea holds up better over time. In terms of taste, raw tea has a distinct bitterness that turns into a refreshing aftertaste, with a rich flavor. If you like this profile, choose raw tea. Ripe tea, on the other hand, has a sweet and mellow taste, without any bitterness, and is very palatable, emphasizing aroma, thickness, smoothness, and sweetness. From an efficacy standpoint, it depends on your constitution. If you have a hot constitution and tend to get overheated, then raw tea is a good choice. For those with a cooler constitution, ripe tea would be more suitable.

Storage of Raw and Ripe Teas

From a collector's perspective, raw Pu'er tea is generally considered better than ripe tea. Raw Pu'er tea is made by naturally aging the leaves without undergoing artificial fermentation. This means that raw Pu'er tea has a greater potential for transformation. After 20 years, the flavor and aroma of raw Pu'er tea can change dramatically, something that cannot be matched by ripe tea.

In the tea world, there is an old saying: “Taste old tea, drink ripe tea, store raw tea.”

The price of old tea is already quite high, and storing it carries some risk, so having the opportunity to taste it is often enough. Ripe tea, being fully fermented, has a fixed flavor profile and won't change much even if stored for a long time, making its value as a collectible relatively low.

In contrast, raw tea is initially processed in a way that leaves room for development. Its flavor is bold and bitter at first, but its potential for change is vast. As it ages, its flavor transforms and becomes more complex, making it valuable to collectors. Over time, both its value and flavor improve, which makes it ideal for storage.

Of course, not all raw teas are suitable for long-term storage. When selecting raw tea for storage, it's crucial to choose high-quality tea leaves. If the starting material is poor, storing it for decades won't transform it into a great tea. Therefore, choosing the right raw tea leaves is essential to ensure they become better with age.

Taste of Raw and Ripe Teas

In terms of taste and flavor, raw and ripe Pu'er teas each have their own characteristics. Raw Pu'er tea, not having undergone fermentation, has a strong and stimulating flavor that becomes smoother and richer over time. Ripe tea, which goes through a process called “wet-piling,” has a dark brown color and a mellow taste, along with a unique aged aroma, making its nature and taste very mild.

Freshly made raw Pu'er tea has a relatively stimulating nature and a reserved flavor, with distinct bitterness and a unique fresh fragrance. It's also very refreshing. Many tea enthusiasts enjoy this fresh taste. After a period of aging, the tea soup of raw Pu'er tea gradually turns reddish and bright, developing aromas such as wood, aged, and plum, while the bitterness decreases and the flavors become more complex and richer, and the overall taste becomes smoother.

Ripe Pu'er tea, due to the wet-piling process, has a gentle and mild nature, with a sweet and smooth taste. It's very pleasant to drink, especially older ripe Pu'er teas that develop fragrances like camphor and medicinal Herbs, which remain very appealing.

Efficacy of Raw and Ripe Teas

Raw Pu'er Tea: Before transforming into an aged tea, raw tea shares similarities with Green Tea, having a rather stimulating nature, which may not be suitable for those with sensitive stomachs.

However, it contains many active ingredients that can help cleanse the intestines, lower lipids and blood pressure, refresh the mind, and aid in weight loss. It's more suitable for younger people, although those prone to insomnia, fever, stomach ulcers, and pregnant women should avoid it.

Ripe Pu'er Tea: It contains abundant beneficial bacterial strains, and when drunk, forms a protective layer in the stomach, providing warmth and protection.

Therefore, drinking ripe tea is less likely to irritate the stomach and can actually protect it, making it less susceptible to irritation.